How to stop your bunny peeing on your carpet
Putting some yummy hay over your bunnies litter tray can encourage them to use it more
Bunnies are creatures of habit so if you have discovered your bunny has peed on your carpet it is best to put a stop to this as soon as possible before your bunny establishes a new toilet area.
There can be many reasons why your bunny has started peeing and pooping outside of their litter pan and by understanding why you will be able to get your bunnies litter training back on track.
In this article we discuss the wide range of reasons for toilet accidents and match these with the solution people have found to correct this behavior and avoid unwanted smells, stains, and damage to the carpet.
How to set up your bunnies litter pan to stop them peeing on your carpet
Litter box with hay feeder
The first thing you can do to stop your bunny peeing on your carpet is to encourage them to use their litter pan by making it as comfortable as possible.
One of the reasons why your bunny may have decided to start a new toilet area on the carpet is because they are unhappy with the setup they have and want to start their own.
Make sure your bunnies litter pans is in a quiet corner of your home where they will not be disturbed, away from noisy electrical appliances and speakers.
Bunnies do not like extremes in temperature so avoid placing their litter pan anywhere that has a draft or can be hot or cold such as a conservatory.
To encourage them to spend more time in their litter pan, place your bunnies food and water bowl or feeder next to their litter tray so they return to it frequently.
Bunnies are quite happy going to the toilet where they eat, which is normal for them, so by placing their hay feeder over their litter pan you can build up even better litter training habits.
Make sure the litter tray is kept clean, you may need to freshen this up every day and if any mess spreads outside of the pan make sure this is cleaned up straight away or it will encourage bad habits to form that are hard to correct.
Always make sure the litter tray is big enough for your bunny to use comfortably, it needs to be big enough for them to turn around in.
We also recommend avoiding litter trays with grates as although they are easy to keep clean, they can be uncomfortable on your bunnies paws which can put them off.
How changes to your home may be causing your rabbit to pee on your carpet
If you have recently moved home, moved your bunnies litter tray from its regular spot to a new location you may find this can cause them to break their litter training and cause them to pee on your carpet.
Sometimes just moving furniture around in a room can disturb your bunnies litter training routine and if they suddenly do not feel comfortable going to the toilet in their regular spot they may try and establish a new area to pee and poop.
If you think this is the case it is best to go back to basics and re-litter train your bunny from the start.
Also, if your bunny can roam a long way from their litter pan, for instance if you have introduced your bunny to an additional space in your home, they may start a second toilet area on the carpet to save them hopping all the way back each time.
If you think your bunny is starting a new toilet spot for their own convenience you may need to close some of these spaces off or accept you will have to put a second litter tray in the area they have favored.
How you may be unknowingly encouraging you bunny to pee on your carpet
Another reason your bunny may have an accident can be due to their reluctance to go to their litter tray because they are content with where they are so just pee on the carpet where they are sitting.
If for instance you are giving your bunny lots of cuddles or treats on the carpet, they may decide they would rather stay put because going back to their litter tray will spoil the fun.
Bunnies go to the toilet frequently so It is important for you to recognize when they will need a toilet break away from what you are doing with them.
Some of the signs that your bunny is getting ready to go to the toilet is they will become fidgety, often grooming themselves, they may start to try to back into a corner of where they are.
If you do think your bunny needs to pee, do not wait, stop what you are doing and literally lead your bunny to their litter tray before it is too late.
How age and health can be the cause of peeing on your carpet
It is always worth considering if there is a health-related reason your bunny has started peeing on your carpet.
It is always worth considering if there is a health-related reason your bunny has started peeing on your carpet.
In which case it may be better moving the litter tray to a better spot to give them better access.
hey may also start going to the toilet on the carpet around their litter tray if they find it difficult climbing in and out of it. You may find choosing a litter tray with lower sides would make this easier for them and get their litter trainning habits back on track.
Also bunnies have strong hormonal urges that can cause them to mark your carpet. In a lot of cases people find that having their bunnies spayed or neutered can reduce unwanted peeing behavior.
If you have noticed an older bunny slowing down or are considering getting them done its best to speak to a Vet specializing in exotic pets that will be able to advise you on.
Sometimes the only option is to put a litter tray where you bunny pees on your carpet to stop the mess.
Lastly it may be that your rabbit prefers the toilet spot they have chosen better than where you have located their litter pan. Bunnies can be very stubborn so you may need to accept this and move the litter tray there or add a second litter tray into the spot they prefer.
It is very disappointing when your bunny suddenly starts peeing on your carpet. This bad habit when it starts can also be hard to stop
